Saturday, December 25, 2010

#H1N1 UK: Sharp rise in serious flu cases prompts jab questions

Previously reported here:

#H1N1 UK: Swine flu: 200 fight for life as number of patients in intensive care doubles in a week

Last updated at 11:03 PM on 20th December 2010

Seventeen of the 190 are being kept alive by highly-specialised heart and lung machines – three times the usual number.

The number of people seriously ill in hospital with flu has risen 50% in the past three days, figures show.

Department of Health data from Thursday showed that 460 critical care beds in England were occupied by flu patients, compared with 302 on Monday.

The total number of cases is in line with what would be expected.

-snip-

Vaccination rates currently stand at 68.5% for the over 65s and 43% for younger groups that are in the at-risk categories. This is a fall from 70.4% and 48.6% at the same time last year.

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